Find out more about Wildlife Photographer of the Year 59
Stunning images unveiled as Wildlife Photographer of the Year returns to The Base, Greenham.
The world-renowned exhibition Wildlife Photographer of the Year 59, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, will open at The Base, Greenham on Friday 1 March 2024, featuring exceptional images which capture fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world. Using photography's unique emotive power to engage and inspire audiences, the images, which will be on display until Sunday 14 April, shine a light on stories and species around the world and encourage a future of advocating for the planet.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, providing a global platform that showcases some of the best photography talent from around the world for nearly 60 years. Launched in 1965, today the competition receives entries from all over the world, highlighting its enduring appeal. This year’s award-winning images will embark on an international tour that will allow them to be seen by well over a million people and The Base in West Berkshire is one of those venues.
The Base have programmed a range of workshops and courses for all ages to enjoy, inspired by the fifty-ninth Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. Adults can get creative with Pastel Wildlife Portraits (3 March) or even attend a 5-week Wildlife Photography Course on Saturdays, from 9 March – 6 April; young people can take part in a Clay Animal Workshop (16 March), Collage Creatures (17 and 24 March) and even Screen Print a Wildlife Tote (28 March). Entry to the exhibition is included in the price of all the exhibition inspired sessions. You can find our more and book here.
Families are always welcome to visit the gallery but the venue’s Songs & Stories in the Gallery sessions (14 March and 6 April), are perfect for those with little ones under-18 months to enjoy 30 minutes of stories and nursery rhymes inspired by the photography on the walls and then a chance to wander and explore with other families. Take part in The Base's Club Curious (16 March, 9 & 12 April), this series of free drop-in workshops are perfect for the whole family. You can immerse yourselves in the themes and images of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 59 and create your own artwork in response to this amazing exhibition. There is also a Relaxed Day (Thursday 11 March and 11 April), where there will be reduced numbers admitted into the gallery and extra staff will be on hand to offer support to those with additional needs.
There will also be two fascinating talks to take part in based around this incredible exhibition. The first Talk: WPY59 in Focus (14 March) where you will hear insights into the stunning images within the exhibition from panel judge, Richard Sabin, Principle Curator of Mammals at the Natural History Museum London. The second will be Talk: Sustainable Living (28 March) where you will join Kirsty Shakespeare from the Trust for Sustainable Living and The Living Rainforest for an insight into how human living and climate change.
This year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition attracted an astounding 49,957 entries from photographers of all ages and experience levels from 95 countries. During an intense week at the Natural History Museum in London, entries were judged anonymously on their creativity, originality, and technical excellence by an international panel of industry experts. On Thursday 14 March at The Base there is the opportunity to hear from Richard Sabin, Principal Curator of Mammals at the Natural History Museum and Competition Judge as he provides insight into some of the most extraordinary photographs, their stories and what makes them so special.
Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum says, 'We are facing urgent biodiversity and climate crises, and photography is a powerful catalyst for change. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition reveals some of nature’s most wondrous sights whilst offering hope and achievable actions visitors can take to help protect the natural world.’ This is why The Base Greenham were keen to invite Kirsty Shakespeare from the Trust for Sustainable Living and The Living Rainforest to give a talk on ‘Sustainable Living’ on Thursday 28 March.
Chair of the judging panel, Kathy Moran says, ‘What most impressed the jury was the range of subjects, from absolute beauty, rarely seen behaviors and species to images that are stark reminders of what we are doing to the natural world. We felt a powerful tension between wonder and woe that we believe came together to create a thought-provoking collection of photographs.’
The Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year 59 will be at The Base, Greenham, from Friday 1 March to Sunday 14 April (open Wed – Sun, 10am – 5pm, including Tuesdays during the Easter holidays). Tickets £0* to Base Pass holders, £10.95 full price (£9.25 concs, £8.75 groups 10+, £6.75 under-16s, under-5s free). To book tickets to the exhibition and workshops, or for more information, please visit thebasegreenham.co.uk or call 01635 522733.
*Terms and conditions apply, see our website for full details.